Of Cats and Kids

Put the Humane Society out of business

Posted by: Carol Lombardi

Thursday, February 23, 2006 11:52 AM

Feb. 28 is spay and neuter day. If your pet isn't spayed or neutered, do it now. Please. The Champaign County Humane Society (CCHS) has a list of local vets who will offer clients 25% off their total spay/neuter package cost.

I currently have 2 Champaign County Humane Society cats and one who would have ended up there if I hadn't taken her in. My oldest is, well, old. I got her as an adult, so I don't quite know how old, but at least 16, probably more like 18. I know I don't have a whole lot of time left with her and she can never be replaced.

But I also know that there will come a time when I am going to want another cat. And when I go to CCHS, this is what I dream about happening there:

I go in and it's quiet. One staff member is dusting the furniture, and two others are playing cards. They stifle a yawn when they see me come in.

Me: I'd like to adopt a cat. An adult would be fine.

CCHS: Well, we'll put you on the list. Right now we are only getting one or two stray or relinquished cats a week. The wait for an adult cat is about six months.

Me: How about a kitten?

CCHS: With the sudden onset of responsibility among pet-owned people in the community, we haven't seen an unwanted kitten in some time. It could be up to a year before we have a kitten for you.

Me: A puppy? A dog?

CCHS: 6-12 months.

Me: Gerbils? Goldfish?

CCHS: We do have one waiting gerbil. Would you like to meet him?

And I'd take the gerbil and put my name on the list for a cat.

But people would have to get their heads out of their nether regions for this to happen. They would have to get their pets spayed/neutered. They would have to keep track of them. They would have to look for them if they get lost. They would have to stop breeding more animals when the world is already full of animals that nobody wants.

If you have an unneutered animal that is roaming around reproducing, or two unneutered animals reproducing right in your own home, you need to stop it. Now. I don't care if your pets are registered and papered and have bloodlines that can be traced back to ancient Egypt. Let me simplify: too many cats and dogs. Must stop making new ones until all have homes.

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